Catoptrophobia, Eisoptrophobia, & Spectrophobia (Fear of Mirrors/Reflections)

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When I first heard about catoptophobia, it made no sense to me. Why did grown people of all people, suffer from this phobia? Was it their reflection they disliked seeing? Was it in any way connected to eating disorders or body dysmorphia?

After digging a litte more into this, I can now kind of understand and sympathize with those coping with these mirror phobias.

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What  exactly

is 

Catoptrophobia, Eisoptrophobia 

&

Spectrophobia ?

“Spectrophobia  … Sufferers of spectrophobia can fear the breaking of a mirror bringing extreme bad luck. They can fear the thought of something frightening jumping out of the mirror or seeing something disturbing inside of it next to their own reflection when looking directly at it.” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrophobia

Eisoptrophobia – Fear of seeing yourself in a mirror

So, in short:

Eisoptrophobia– don’t want to see themselves in mirrors

Catoptrophobia– dont like anything reflective, including mirrors

Spectrophobia– think something or someone will jump out of mirror or appear in mirror, also superstitious

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I can’t help wondering if maybe the fear stems from childhood stories or movies, as they seemed to be based off some sort of superstition and the supernatural.

 

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TREATMENT

Treatment typically includes exposure therapy  and psychotherapy.

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Conclusion

Even after the research i’ve done, I still can’t help but wonder:

1. How these people drive (or if they drive)
2. Do they ever use any mirrors to dress or comb their hair in the morning,
3. Do they wear makeup?
4.  How do they cope when they  go out to eat in restaurants where beverages are served in glass?

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Do you or anyone else you know have any of these mirror phobias? Have you ever heard of it before today?  Let me know in the comments below.